Origin Story

In 2021, life took a big turn. I left my hometown, walked away from a job I’d had for 11 years, and stepped into a brand new chapter—new city, new relationship, and a lot of change.


After a lot of prayer (and a LOT of faith in God—not myself), He reminded me of a dream I’d tucked away years ago: to capture memories, not just for me, but for others. Photography had always been my love, but I’d never felt brave enough to chase it.


Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” That verse has guided me through uncertain seasons, reminding me to trust the next step, even when it’s scary.


And that’s how Be the Light Photography was born—a leap of faith, a dream rekindled, and a calling to preserve meaningful moments and bring a little more light into the world.

 

 

Photography is the pause button for life’s most meaningful moments.

 

 

all about me

When I’m not behind the camera, you can usually find me with my best friend and husband, Darin, and our three amazing kids—Graylon, Cooper, and Adelynn. Our home is full of chaos, messy kids, and way too many dogs (but I wouldn’t have it any other way).

By day, I’ve been working as a certified dental assistant since 2011, but my true passion is capturing real, meaningful moments with families like yours. I love turquoise jewelry, western fashion, sunflower seeds, thriving, and Jesus.

Clients Say

Karissa was an absolute pleasure to work with! She came

up with poses and adjusted us as needed, which is huge!

So many photographers just expect you to know what to

do. Her turnaround time was great! Our family was so

happy with how our photos turned out - it was hard to

choose which ones to print. We will be using her for our

family photos again..


ASHLEY| AUG, 2025

Clients Say

"Karissa is incredible! From start to finish, she made our family session so fun and effortless. She has this amazing ability to capture real moments—the laughs, the hugs, the chaos—and turn them into beautiful, heartfelt images we’ll treasure forever. She even braved the mud and water to get the perfect shot! Her warmth, patience, and talent truly shine through every photo. We can’t recommend her enough!"

Lauren

Clients Say

Getting to have pictures take by Karissa has been

everything I needed! Having her take memories that

will last me a lifetime. I couldn’t be more thankful for

her. She always listens to what pictures I want to take

or the style that I want to take. She’s always willing to

do anything to get the pictures that I have wanted.

I’ll forever recommend her for any and every type of

pictures

Jocelyn

Get in touch

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